Southeast regional report on Michigan fruit – July 2, 2012

First captures of apple maggots have been made in southeast Michigan. Growers with an apple crop will want to begin control measures in the next week to 10 days.

I wanted to update you on the first catch of apple maggots in east Michigan. On Saturday, June 30, we had apple maggot trap catch on yellow sticky board traps at two locations in the region. Both of these sites have been dry for the last three weeks, so this catch was not triggered by rainfall. I am not surprised to find this catch, as our season is still running about two weeks ahead of normal.

Trap catch of apple maggots on these yellow sticky traps is an early indication of adult emergence. We have not caught any adults on red ball traps. This would indicate that they are laying eggs in fruit. Where growers have an apple crop, control measures will need to begin in the next week to 10 days.

I will be on annual leave this week (July 2-6), so look for the next southeast Michigan fruit crop update on July 10.

For fruit-related articles, see the MSU Extension Fruit News website. If you need to see me at your farm for a farm visit, don’t hesitate to contact me via email, calling my office at 810-244-8555 or calling or texting me on my cell phone at 810-516-3800.

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